Suspects arrested in 3 year old homicide

On May 31, 2024, the Elmore County Sheriff's Office received a report of a possible homicide which occurred in Mountain Home approximately 3 years ago. During the investigation, ECSO Detectives were able to collect information and locate a burial site in a remote location in Owyhee County. With assistance from Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office Forensics Team and Nampa Police Department Forensics Team, they were able to recover the remains of the reported victim.

ECSO Detectives were able to establish probable cause to arrest three individuals in connection with the suspected homicide.

On June 2, 2024, Law Enforcement was dispatched to the 900 block of West 4th north street in Mountain Home. This call was related to the ongoing investigation. Two of the suspects were reported to be at this residence. When Elmore County Sheriff’s Deputies and Officers with the Mountain Home Police Department arrived on scene, there was a brief stand off between the subjects in the residence. After approximately 2 hours, one of the suspects surrendered to Law Enforcement. The second suspect was later discovered deceased from an apparent self-inflected gunshot wound.

Later in the evening on June 2nd ECSO Detectives took the third suspect into custody with no incident.

Megan Marie James and Laura Denise Hamilton, both of Mountain Home, were booked into the Elmore County Jail. They both face charges of 1st Degree Murder, Failure to report a death, kidnapping and exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Mountain Home Police Department, Nampa Police Department, Canton County Sheriff’s Department, Idaho State Police, and the Owyhee County Sheriff's Office for their assistance with this investigation.

The identity of the victim will not be released at this time out of respect for the family.

This is still an ongoing investigation.

No further information will be released.

All suspects involved in this case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Mike Hollinshead